David Hackworth Riggs was born on May 6, 1933 in Los Angeles, Calif. to David G. and Katheryn H. Riggs. The family moved back to Mrs. Riggs' hometown of Bridgeport when David was 7 years old. He attended the Bridgeport schools where he graduated and went on to finish the University of Alabama with a major in history.
David joined the Naval Academy as a cadet in Pensacola, and there he learned the fly aircraft before joining the United States Navy. David served in the Korean War as a pilot. He later went to work for Pan American World Airways and met his wife, Shirley Tuckey of Naugatuck, Conn., who was a stewardess with Eastern Airlines. They lived in various parts of the country as he worked his way through the ranks of Pan Am, ending up in Miami, Fla. The couple had three children. His father, mother, daughter Katheryn and son Charles preceded David in death. He is survived by his wife of 54 years and a son, David Riggs.
David flew for Pan American for 30 years as the rank of captain until Pan American's Pacific routes were sold to United Airlines. While with Pan Am, David set a Guinness Book of World Records on July 2, 1984 for the longest flight of 7,950 statute miles from Melbourne, Australia to Los Angeles on a 747 in only 13 hours and 59 minutes. David joined United Airlines where he retired in 1996. David continued his lingering love and respect for the airline where he began his career, Pan American Airlines, until his death.
David has been a philanthropist to the Bridgeport area he loved and called home. He has been a significant contributor to the Bridgeport and Concord Methodist Churches and donated an elevator to the Bridgeport Depot Museum in honor of his mother Katheryn Riggs who taught school in Bridgeport during the latter years of her life. He was an inspiration and a model citizen to the City of Bridgeport.
Prior to David's demise, he was flying his own twin-engine plane for the Coast Guard, overseeing the rivers, lakes, dams and electric plants for the Homeland Security program, following the 911 disasters. He was the owner of several planes, including historical planes which he was restoring.
David passed away on Saturday, April 2, 2005 after an extended illness. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Bridgeport Historical Society. Please call (256) 495-3892 for the address.
Visitation will be Thursday, April 7 from 5 until 9 p.m. at Rudder Funeral Home in Bridgeport. The military funeral service will be held Friday, April 8 at 11 a.m. at the funeral home chapel officiated by Rev. Jim Bernard and Rev. Joey Carr. Burial will follow in the Williams Family Cemetery in Bridgeport.
The Daily Sentinel
David joined the Naval Academy as a cadet in Pensacola, and there he learned the fly aircraft before joining the United States Navy. David served in the Korean War as a pilot. He later went to work for Pan American World Airways and met his wife, Shirley Tuckey of Naugatuck, Conn., who was a stewardess with Eastern Airlines. They lived in various parts of the country as he worked his way through the ranks of Pan Am, ending up in Miami, Fla. The couple had three children. His father, mother, daughter Katheryn and son Charles preceded David in death. He is survived by his wife of 54 years and a son, David Riggs.
David flew for Pan American for 30 years as the rank of captain until Pan American's Pacific routes were sold to United Airlines. While with Pan Am, David set a Guinness Book of World Records on July 2, 1984 for the longest flight of 7,950 statute miles from Melbourne, Australia to Los Angeles on a 747 in only 13 hours and 59 minutes. David joined United Airlines where he retired in 1996. David continued his lingering love and respect for the airline where he began his career, Pan American Airlines, until his death.
David has been a philanthropist to the Bridgeport area he loved and called home. He has been a significant contributor to the Bridgeport and Concord Methodist Churches and donated an elevator to the Bridgeport Depot Museum in honor of his mother Katheryn Riggs who taught school in Bridgeport during the latter years of her life. He was an inspiration and a model citizen to the City of Bridgeport.
Prior to David's demise, he was flying his own twin-engine plane for the Coast Guard, overseeing the rivers, lakes, dams and electric plants for the Homeland Security program, following the 911 disasters. He was the owner of several planes, including historical planes which he was restoring.
David passed away on Saturday, April 2, 2005 after an extended illness. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Bridgeport Historical Society. Please call (256) 495-3892 for the address.
Visitation will be Thursday, April 7 from 5 until 9 p.m. at Rudder Funeral Home in Bridgeport. The military funeral service will be held Friday, April 8 at 11 a.m. at the funeral home chapel officiated by Rev. Jim Bernard and Rev. Joey Carr. Burial will follow in the Williams Family Cemetery in Bridgeport.
The Daily Sentinel
David Hackworth Riggs was born on May 6, 1933 in Los Angeles, Calif. to David G. and Katheryn H. Riggs. The family moved back to Mrs. Riggs' hometown of Bridgeport when David was 7 years old. He attended the Bridgeport schools where he graduated and went on to finish the University of Alabama with a major in history.
David joined the Naval Academy as a cadet in Pensacola, and there he learned the fly aircraft before joining the United States Navy. David served in the Korean War as a pilot. He later went to work for Pan American World Airways and met his wife, Shirley Tuckey of Naugatuck, Conn., who was a stewardess with Eastern Airlines. They lived in various parts of the country as he worked his way through the ranks of Pan Am, ending up in Miami, Fla. The couple had three children. His father, mother, daughter Katheryn and son Charles preceded David in death. He is survived by his wife of 54 years and a son, David Riggs.
David flew for Pan American for 30 years as the rank of captain until Pan American's Pacific routes were sold to United Airlines. While with Pan Am, David set a Guinness Book of World Records on July 2, 1984 for the longest flight of 7,950 statute miles from Melbourne, Australia to Los Angeles on a 747 in only 13 hours and 59 minutes. David joined United Airlines where he retired in 1996. David continued his lingering love and respect for the airline where he began his career, Pan American Airlines, until his death.
David has been a philanthropist to the Bridgeport area he loved and called home. He has been a significant contributor to the Bridgeport and Concord Methodist Churches and donated an elevator to the Bridgeport Depot Museum in honor of his mother Katheryn Riggs who taught school in Bridgeport during the latter years of her life. He was an inspiration and a model citizen to the City of Bridgeport.
Prior to David's demise, he was flying his own twin-engine plane for the Coast Guard, overseeing the rivers, lakes, dams and electric plants for the Homeland Security program, following the 911 disasters. He was the owner of several planes, including historical planes which he was restoring.
David passed away on Saturday, April 2, 2005 after an extended illness. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Bridgeport Historical Society. Please call (256) 495-3892 for the address.
Visitation will be Thursday, April 7 from 5 until 9 p.m. at Rudder Funeral Home in Bridgeport. The military funeral service will be held Friday, April 8 at 11 a.m. at the funeral home chapel officiated by Rev. Jim Bernard and Rev. Joey Carr. Burial will follow in the Williams Family Cemetery in Bridgeport.
The Daily Sentinel
David joined the Naval Academy as a cadet in Pensacola, and there he learned the fly aircraft before joining the United States Navy. David served in the Korean War as a pilot. He later went to work for Pan American World Airways and met his wife, Shirley Tuckey of Naugatuck, Conn., who was a stewardess with Eastern Airlines. They lived in various parts of the country as he worked his way through the ranks of Pan Am, ending up in Miami, Fla. The couple had three children. His father, mother, daughter Katheryn and son Charles preceded David in death. He is survived by his wife of 54 years and a son, David Riggs.
David flew for Pan American for 30 years as the rank of captain until Pan American's Pacific routes were sold to United Airlines. While with Pan Am, David set a Guinness Book of World Records on July 2, 1984 for the longest flight of 7,950 statute miles from Melbourne, Australia to Los Angeles on a 747 in only 13 hours and 59 minutes. David joined United Airlines where he retired in 1996. David continued his lingering love and respect for the airline where he began his career, Pan American Airlines, until his death.
David has been a philanthropist to the Bridgeport area he loved and called home. He has been a significant contributor to the Bridgeport and Concord Methodist Churches and donated an elevator to the Bridgeport Depot Museum in honor of his mother Katheryn Riggs who taught school in Bridgeport during the latter years of her life. He was an inspiration and a model citizen to the City of Bridgeport.
Prior to David's demise, he was flying his own twin-engine plane for the Coast Guard, overseeing the rivers, lakes, dams and electric plants for the Homeland Security program, following the 911 disasters. He was the owner of several planes, including historical planes which he was restoring.
David passed away on Saturday, April 2, 2005 after an extended illness. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Bridgeport Historical Society. Please call (256) 495-3892 for the address.
Visitation will be Thursday, April 7 from 5 until 9 p.m. at Rudder Funeral Home in Bridgeport. The military funeral service will be held Friday, April 8 at 11 a.m. at the funeral home chapel officiated by Rev. Jim Bernard and Rev. Joey Carr. Burial will follow in the Williams Family Cemetery in Bridgeport.
The Daily Sentinel
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